The Wizard of Macke Town

Bill Sutton

The Wizard of Macke Town

Copyright © Bill Sutton- All Rights Reserved
Used by Permission

It started in a tavern on the edge of Macke town
The talk had turned to stories of the night
He drank and laughed with all the rest and chilled them with his tales
Spoken in the shadowed eerie light.

When all at once they noticed signs they had not seen before
No candles burned inside the tavern hall
The windows shuttered tightly and no light spread from the doors
The blacksmith's son glowed pale to light them all.

Sword in hand and rein in hand he rides across the plain
Knowing as he gallops that he can't go home again
Born and raised in Macke Town the blacksmith's only son
His neighbors hound and hunt him for a deed he has not done.

Frightened by his wizard's light his old friends stay away
He finds himself abandoned and alone
His lifetime friendships shattered by a power undesired
His life destroyed by things he has not known.

Then one day the Baron dies of no known earthly cause
And all assign the blacksmith's son the blame
In the night they come to bring him to his death upon the stake
He escapes into the night that shrouds the plain.

Sword in hand and rein in hand he rides across the plain
Knowing as he gallops that he can't go home again
Born and raised in Macke Town the blacksmith's only son
His neighbors hound and hunt him for a deed he has not done.

He rides the plain a year or more, searching for a sign
Of a sorcerer who murders village lords
And if he should find him he resolves to settle all
Clear his name with power and a sword.

Comes the day he finds the tower black against the sun
The power grips his body like a claw
It pulls him to the tower- his shame may be avenged
And the castle is invaded by the pawn.

He finds the sorcerer asleep secure within a spell
His rage fuels power to strike the wards away.
He slashes down with sharpened blade and takes the wizard's head
And he feels his unknown power drain away.

Sword in hand and rein in hand he rides across the plain
Knowing as he gallops that he's going home again
Born and raised in Macke Town the blacksmith's only son
He brings his friends and neighbors proof of deeds he has not done.

Then he rides in triumph back again to Macke town
Relief at his salvation quickly dies.
For though his power has vanished and he brings the murderer's head
The village wisdom calls his claims a lie.

Sword in hand and rein in hand he rides across the plain
Searching for a power he may never find again
Born and raised in Macke Town the blacksmith's only son
His neighbors hound and hunt him for a deed he has not done.